Rotatable, stackable pallet container

ABSTRACT

A pallet container includes a bottom, side walls that extend from the bottom upwards, widening conically and/or in stages, towards a peripheral container edge, and skids that allow a fork of a forklift truck or other industrial truck to be inserted. The bottom and the side walls are shaped such that the pallet container can be nested in an identical pallet container oriented the same way and can be stacked on an identical pallet container that has been rotated relative to the pallet container by 180° only in relation to a vertical axis. The outer contour of the skids aligns with the outer contour of the side walls.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national stage entry of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/051101, filed Jan. 17, 2020, and claims the benefit of priority of European Application No. 19170269.5, filed Apr. 18, 2019 and European Application No. 19152320.9, filed Jan. 17, 2019. The contents of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/051101, European Application No. 19170269.5 and European Application No. 19152320.9 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a stackable pallet container which is selectively nestable or placeable inside each other, in particular a large load carrier, having a bottom, side walls that widen from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim in a conical and/or stepped manner, and skids extending underneath the bottom.

BACKGROUND

A rotatably stackable pallet container is known from DE 20 2013 100 968 U1, which has side walls which widen towards the container opening and which are configured in such a way that, in a relative orientation of two identically constructed, unfilled pallet containers, placing the pallet containers inside each other is possible in order to reduce the transport volume during empty transport and, in another relative orientation, lower portions of the side walls of one of the two pallet containers can be supported on upper portions of the side walls of the other pallet container and thus stacking of the pallet containers is possible. In the case of the container according to DE 20 2013 100 968 U1, the rotary stacking capability is implemented via projections provided on outer sides of the side walls and via corresponding recesses on inner sides of the side walls.

The problem with the pallet container according to DE 20 2013 100 968 U1 is that the differently shaped projections differ only slightly visually, which is why the orientation of the pallet container is difficult to detect in adverse lighting conditions and/or for people with impaired vision. This means that a pallet container can be accidentally nested in an identically constructed pallet container, even though it is actually intended to be stacked one on top of the other. If the lower pallet container is partially filled with contents, the contents may be damaged.

SUMMARY

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a rotatably stackable pallet container whose manageability is improved.

According to the invention, a pallet container is provided which has a bottom, in particular a rectangular bottom, and side walls extending from the bottom to a container rim. In particular, the container also has a pallet-shaped bottom part extending below the bottom and adapted for engagement by a fork of a lift truck or another industrial truck.

The side walls extend conically and/or widen in steps from the bottom upwards to a circumferential container rim.

In particular two skids running parallel to each other, at least in sections, extend downwards from the bottom. In particular, the skids each have at least two engagement openings which allow engagement of a fork of a forklift truck or another industrial truck.

The bottom and the side walls are shaped in such a way that the pallet container is nestable in an identically constructed pallet container oriented in the same way and is stackable onto an identically constructed pallet container which is only rotated by 180° with regard to the pallet container with respect to a vertical axis of the pallet container or a vertical axis of the identically constructed pallet container.

In particular, the vertical axis of the pallet container extends perpendicular to the bottom. In particular, the vertical axis extends through a center point of the bottom.

The pallet container is distinguished by the fact that the outer contour of the skids follows the outer contour of the side walls. In particular, the outer contour of the skids can follow the outer contour of the side walls in a flush manner at least in sections. Alternatively or additionally, the outer contour of the skids can follow the outer contour of the side walls insofar as these outer contours have a geometrically similar shape at least in sections. This means that it is also possible for a recessed section to be formed between the skids and the side walls.

Outer contour means in particular the silhouette of a surface facing outwards with respect to the vertical axis of the pallet container or respectively the outline of a surface facing away from the vertical axis of the pallet container in a sectional view parallel to the bottom.

“That the outer contour of the skids follows the outer contour of the side walls” means in particular that the shape of the outer contour of at least a major part of the skids corresponds to or is similar in a geometric sense to the shape of the outer contour of at least a major part of the side wall adjacent to the skid in each case.

“Flush” means in particular that the shape of the outer contour of the skids in an area directly adjacent to the side walls corresponds to the shape of the outer contour of the side walls in an area directly adjacent to the skids.

In other words, the side walls have side wall setbacks or recesses which are offset towards a container interior region, i.e. inwards, with respect to an adjacent, substantially parallel, portion of the corresponding side wall, wherein the container interior region in this context is the region which extends within the side walls above the bottom. In other words, the side walls have side wall setbacks or recesses and side wall portions that are not offset inwards. The side wall setbacks or recesses restrict the rotational symmetry of the pallet container in such a way that the pallet container is stackable in the manner of a rotatably stackable container in a relative orientation (first relative orientation) on an identically constructed pallet container and is nestable in another relative orientation (second relative orientation) in an identically constructed pallet container. The pallet container can be brought from the first relative orientation, in which the pallet container and the identically constructed pallet container are oriented in opposite directions, to the second relative orientation, in which the pallet container and the identically constructed pallet container are oriented in the same way, by rotating it through 180° about its vertical axis. In the first relative orientation, portions of the side walls that are not offset inwards are located above corresponding side wall setbacks or recesses of the identically constructed pallet container. In the second relative orientation, the side wall setbacks or recesses of the pallet container are embedded in corresponding side wall setbacks or recesses of the identically constructed pallet container, and side wall portions of the pallet container that are not offset inwards are embedded in corresponding side wall portions of the identically constructed pallet container that are not offset inwards. The skids each have at least one skid setback on a surface facing away from the container interior and extending transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom and along or at least largely parallel to a longitudinal extension direction of the respective skid, said skid setback being located below one of the side wall setbacks. The skid setbacks and the side wall setbacks are each at least largely channel-shaped. The skid setback of one of the skids and the corresponding side-wall setback transition into each other. In other words, the skid setback of one of the skids and the corresponding side-wall setback together form a channel-shaped structure.

The advantage of a pallet container according to the invention is that its orientation can be easily sensed by running a hand along an outer surface of one of the skids.

According to one aspect, the inner contour of the skids may follow the outer contour of the skids. That is, at locations where the outer contour of the skids jumps inwards, the inner contour of the skids also jumps inwards, and vice versa. Accordingly, both the outer contour and the inner contour of the skids can be s-shaped or have an s-shaped cut end. In this way, the width of the skids can be kept essentially the same.

According to an additional or alternative aspect, the two skids each have an outer edge each having at least one s-shaped portion. In other words, each of the outer edges of the skids according to the invention has two mutually parallel, offset rectilinear portions and a curved transition portion connecting the mutually parallel, offset portions. In particular, the shape of the s-shaped portion of a respective skid corresponds to the shape of a cross-section, parallel to the bottom, of a part of the adjacent side wall. In particular, the two rectilinear portions of a respective skid are parallel to a rim of the bottom and one of the rectilinear portions extends closer to the container interior than the other rectilinear portion.

By providing an edge, sensing of the outer contour of the corresponding skid can be guided in an advantageous manner.

The at least two s-shaped portions of the outer edges of the skids can be formed such that they extend in a common (imaginary) plane.

Due to such a uniform arrangement of the s-shaped portions, the orientation of the pallet container can be sensed from two sides in the same manner and thus more easily than usual.

In the common plane of the at least two s-shaped portions of the outer edges of the skids, undersides of the skids facing away from the bottom may also extend. In other words, the lower outer edges of the pallet container are s-shaped in sections.

Such an arrangement of the s-shaped portions on an underside of the pallet container enables the pallet container to be sensed even when the pallet container is lifted by an industrial truck.

The outer edges of the skids can each have two end portions extending in a common (imaginary) straight line. In particular, the end portions of the respective skid may each be arranged in the area of a corner of the bottom.

Such an arrangement of the end portions of the outer edge of the respective skid makes it possible to ensure defined tilting in a plane extending perpendicular to the outer edge.

Support recesses can be provided on the circumferential container rim, on which lower support regions of the skids of the identically constructed pallet container are supported when an identically constructed pallet container is stacked on the pallet container and into which the lower support regions of the skids of the identically constructed pallet container can immerse when an identically constructed pallet container is stacked on the pallet container. Thereby, lower surfaces of the support recesses can extend in a common (imaginary) plane and lower surfaces of the engagement openings can extend in a (different) common (imaginary) plane. A depth of the support recesses of the pallet container may be determined to be less than or equal to a distance between the common plane of the lower surface of the engagement openings of the pallet container and the common plane of the lower surfaces of the support regions of the skids of the pallet container.

In other words, the pallet container is configured such that the depth of the support recesses and the distance between the common plane of the lower surfaces of the engagement openings and the common plane of the lower surfaces of the support regions of the skids ensure that the lower surfaces of the engagement openings are not below an upper edge of the container rim of an identically constructed pallet container when the pallet container is stacked onto the identically constructed pallet container.

If the support recesses and the skids are configured in such a way, it is advantageously possible to detect accidental placement of the pallet container on a filled, identically constructed pallet container in the second relative orientation actually intended for nesting by sensing the difference between one of the lower surfaces of the engagement openings of the pallet container and the upper edge of the container rim of the filled, identically constructed pallet container.

The container rim can be configured to cantilever towards the outside of the container. Further preferably, the cantilevered container rim can cantilever by more than 10 mm at least on two opposite sides, so that said cantilevered rim is adapted from one side for engagement of a fork of a lift truck or another industrial truck.

According to an additional or alternative aspect of the invention, at least one recessed grip may be provided on an underside of the container rim oriented such that the recessed grip can be gripped from below.

By providing the recessed grips, the pallet container nested in an identically constructed pallet container can be manually separated from the identically constructed pallet container.

At least one opening may be provided at an upper end of the at least one recessed grip, said opening extending from the recessed grip in a direction away from the container interior bounded by the bottom and the side walls, i.e. outwards, so that when the pallet container is positioned upside down, water collected in the recessed grip can be at least partially drained to an outside of the pallet container.

By providing the openings in the recessed grips, drying of the pallet container after cleaning can be improved.

The at least one opening of a respective recessed grip can also extend at least partially upwards from the recessed grip.

This can further improve drying of the pallet container after cleaning.

The cantilevered container rim can be formed as a ribbed structure, in particular as a number of ribbed wreaths.

With such a container rim, the pallet container according to the invention can be implemented in a lightweight design.

The at least one recessed grip may be formed by a u-shaped rib of the rib structure. The opening of the u-shaped rib may be directed downwards. The u-shaped rib may have a rim facing away from the container interior region, said rim being adjoined by an outer wall. The outer wall and the u-shaped rib can be formed in such a way that together they enclose the recessed grip.

At least one of the side walls of the container may have a shock absorber or damper on its outer side, which, viewed in the container height direction, is arranged below the container rim and preferably spaced therefrom and projects from said outer side at least to such an extent that it is tangent to or intersects an (imaginary) plane extending between an outer edge of the bottom and an, in particular lower, outer edge of the container rim of the at least one side wall.

Due to such a constructive design, the shock absorber hits a flat bottom before the container rim during a tilting movement of the container around the associated outer edge of the bottom. In addition, the shock absorber may constructively be configured and adapted to at least partially dissipate an impact acting laterally on the container while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation, i.e. the shock absorber may be adapted in its structure and/or its material selection to receive energies occurring during an impact, e.g. through internal frictional losses.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the shock absorber may be hollow or a clearance may be formed between the shock absorber and the outer surface of the associated side wall. Particularly preferably, the at least one shock absorber may have a hollow profile, in particular enclosing a cavity or clearance together with the shielded side wall. Providing a cavity or a clearance between the shock absorber and the side wall shielded by this shock absorber makes it possible to define a specific deformation path or crumple zone on which the shock absorber can deform and thus dissipate impact energy.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one shock absorber may be arranged in the upper third of the container, in particular at a distance of 180 to 240 mm from the upper container rim, as seen in the container height direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls can extend in a widening manner from the bottom in the direction of the container rim, in particular conically and/or in steps. The container cross-section, which widens in the container height direction, allows several identically constructed containers to be nested or placed inside each other. A shock absorber is particularly advantageous for such nestable containers, since the edge is particularly exposed due to the conical shape of the walls.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shock absorber can be configured in such a way that it does not protrude further in the direction parallel to the ground than the outer edges of the container rim of the container side protected/shielded by it, so as not to increase the outer dimensions of the container. Preferably, the shock absorber can be flush with said outer edge of the container rim or can be aligned with it in the container height direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container can have four side walls and four shock absorbers can each be arranged in corner regions of the container. In this way, impact forces can be transferred well into the already reinforced corner regions of a container.

Preferably, the shock absorbers can be arranged on two opposite side walls of the container. In the case of containers with an essentially rectangular base, for example, it makes sense to provide shock absorbers on the longer side walls, since the containers are more likely to tip over the longer bottom edge. In the case of large load carriers, there is often a predetermined engagement direction or engagement sides for forklift trucks and the like. In this case, it is advantageous to arrange the shock absorbers on the side walls facing away from the engagement sides, since a stack of stacked containers will usually tip away from the forklift truck.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the shock absorber may comprise a predetermined impact absorption portion or crumple portion adapted to dissipate impact energy upon impact while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation. Various embodiments of such impact absorption portions are conceivable. According to a preferred configuration example, the impact absorption portion may be a folded portion of the shock absorber. According to another embodiment, the impact absorption portion may be a purposefully introduced, predetermined breaking point that dampens the impact force. According to a further embodiment, the shock absorber may comprise an elastomer portion for improved shock absorption.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber may be suspended from the container via an elastic spring portion, for example an integral, plastic leaf-spring portion, and thus be spring-preloaded on the container so as to be movable relative to the container sidewall.

According to a further preferred aspect, the shock absorber may taper towards the container exterior or respectively in the direction away from the container. In this way, impact forces can be received at a predetermined, comparatively small area portion of the shock absorber and can be distributed to a larger area of the container. According to a preferred embodiment, the shock absorber can be tapered or rounded towards the outside of the container (in the direction away from the container interior).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber can have a projection on the outside of the container for the defined introduction of impact forces, which projects obliquely in the direction away from the container and downwards (in the direction towards the bottom) from the shock absorber.

Particularly preferably, the container may be a large load carrier with a pallet-shaped bottom part adapted for engagement by a fork of a lift truck or another industrial truck. In such containers, large forces act when stacks of containers placed inside each other tip over, so that a shock absorber according to the invention is of particular advantage.

According to an alternative embodiment, the shock absorber may be formed as a shock bracket arranged on the outside of the associated side wall.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the container may be made of plastic, in particular by an injection molding or rotomolding process. Particularly preferably, the container may be produced as a single piece of material and the shock absorber may be integrally molded thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention from different sides;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are views illustrating the overturning kinematics of a stack of identically constructed containers placed inside each other according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a container according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a first embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a second embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a third embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a fourth embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a fifth embodiment of a shock absorber; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container according to the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configuration examples of the present disclosure are described hereinafter based on the accompanying figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a perspective view of a container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The container 1 shown is a large load carrier made of plastic with a pallet-shaped bottom 2 with recesses or engagement openings 3 for engagement of the fork of a lift truck and four side walls 4, 6, 8, 10. The container 1 shown is designed as a nestable container 1, i.e. the four side walls 4, 6, 8, 10 widen conically towards the container opening in order to enable placing the identically constructed containers 1 inside each other (see, for example, FIG. 2A). More precisely, the container 1 shown is a so-called rotary stacking container, which can be either stacked or nested with an identically constructed container, depending on the relative rotation of the two identically constructed containers.

The container 1 shown has a cantilevered container rim 12 which defines its container opening and is structurally reinforced by a circumferential ribbed wreath. The ribbed structure of the container rim 12 forms recessed areas (not described in more detail here) which enable one or more containers 1 to be lifted out of a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other via a forklift truck for separation. Especially during such separation operations with lift trucks, it often happens that stacks of containers 1 placed inside each other are knocked over.

The side wall 4 has a side wall setback 5, the side wall 6 has a side wall setback 7, the side wall 8 has side wall setbacks 9, and the side wall 10 has a side wall setback 11.

The bottom 2 has lower outer edges 16, 18, 20 and 22. The lower outer edge 16 extends in at a lower end of the side wall 4, the lower outer edge 18 extends in at a lower end of the side wall 6, the lower outer edge 20 extends in at a lower end of side wall 8, and the lower outer edge 22 extends in at a lower end of the side wall 10. The lower outer edge 16 is formed by a skid 17 and the lower outer edge 18 is formed by a skid 19. The skid 17 has a skid setback 21 that is offset inwards. The skid 19 has a skid setback 23 that is offset inwards. The two skid setbacks 21 and 23 as well as the two side wall setbacks 5 and 7 are each channel-shaped.

The side wall setbacks 5 and 7 extend downwards from the container rim 12 towards the bottom 2. The skid setbacks 21 and 23 each extend from an upper side of the respective skid 17 and 19 to an underside of the respective skid 17 and 19. The side wall setback 5 transitions flush into the skid setback 21 so that both together form a channel-shaped structure that is offset inwards. The side wall setback 7 transitions flush into the skid setback 23 so that both together form a channel-shaped structure that is offset inwards.

Due to the skid setbacks 21 and 23, the skids 17 and 19 each have a curved outer contour. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 9, the outer edges 16 and 18 are s-shaped due to the skid setbacks 5 and 7. Respective end portions of the lower outer edges 16 and 18 of the skids 17 and 19, so-called outer edge portions 25 and 27 of the skids, are formed such that the outer edge portions 25 of the skids of the skid 17 extend in a common (imaginary) straight line and that outer edge portions of the skids 27 of the skid 19 extend in a common (imaginary) straight line. Between the respective skid setback 5 or 7 and the corresponding outer edge portions 25 or 27 of the skids, more precisely at end regions of the skid setbacks 5 or 7, the outer edges 16 and 18 of the skids 17 and 19 have s-shaped portions S.

The container 1 of FIGS. 1A and 1B also has projections or ribs 13 which run horizontally or parallel to the bottom in each of its corner regions and which are arranged deeper than the circumferential ribbed wreaths of the container rim 12 and which serve as a stop for limiting the nest depth when several identically constructed containers 1 are placed inside each other.

Support recesses 42 are provided on the top side of the container rim 12. Support regions 44 are provided on the underside of skids 17 and 19. When an identically constructed pallet container is stacked on the pallet container 1, the (lower) support regions of the skids of the identically constructed pallet container can immerse in the support recesses 42. Lower surfaces of the support recesses 42 extend in a common plane. Lower surfaces 45 of the engagement openings 3 also extend in a common plane. A depth T of the support recesses 42 of the pallet container 1 extending from the top surface of the container rim 12 to a bottom surface of the support recess is determined to be less than or equal to a distance D between the common plane of the lower surface 45 of the engagement openings 3 of the pallet container 1 and the common plane of the lower surfaces of the support regions 44 of the skids 17 and 19 of the pallet container 1.

On an underside of the container rim 12, two respective recessed grips 46 are provided on the long side walls 4 and 6, and one respective recessed grip 46 is provided on the short side walls 8 and 10. The recessed grips 46 are oriented in such a way that the recessed grip 46 can be gripped from below.

Two respective openings 48 are provided at upper ends of the recessed grips 46 and extend from the recessed grip in a direction away from the container interior region bounded by the bottom 2 and the side walls 4, 6, 8, 10. In addition, the openings 48 are formed such that each also extends partially upwards from the recessed grip 46. Each recessed grip 46 is respectively formed by a u-shaped rib of the rib structure of the container rim 12. The respective u-shaped rib is oriented such that its opening is directed downwards. A rim of the respective u-shaped rib facing away from container interior region is adjoined by an outer wall which, together with the u-shaped rib, encloses the recessed grip 46.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the behavior of a stack of large load carriers 1, 1′ placed inside each other when tipping over. It has been determined by the applicant that, due to inertia and the play between the individual containers 1 placed inside each other, the lower edge of the cantilevered container rim 12′ of the lowermost container 1′ of the stack often forms the first point of impact of such a container stack. This is generally not designed for such loads, which causes the container rim 12′ to break and the container 1′ to become unusable.

As can be seen in FIG. 2B, the containers 1 arranged further up in the stack tend to hit the bottom with their container rim 12 in a rather flat manner when tipping over. FIG. 2C shows an end position in which the stack comes to rest on the container edges 12 of the containers 1.

In summary, the container rim 12 of the lowermost container 1 of a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other is subjected to a disproportionately large share of the impact force, and the exact point of impact of the individual containers 1 varies with their position in the container stack. Consequently, it is difficult to design the container rim 12 for this load.

Due to the problems described above, the container 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention has a shock absorbing structure or shock absorber 14. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2A, for example, the shock absorber 14′ is configured to project far enough from the side wall and below the container rim 12′ so that when a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other tips over, the shock absorber 14′ of the lowermost container 1′ hits the bottom before its container rim 12A. The same applies to the containers 1 arranged a bit higher up in the stack. The container 1 according to the preferred embodiment comprises four such shock absorbers 14, which are each arranged in corner regions and essentially shield two opposite side walls 4, 6 of the container 1 or project from them (cf. FIG. 1A).

As can be clearly seen, for example, in the side view of FIG. 3, the shock absorber 14 is designed as a shock absorbing structure which is spaced from the container rim 12 towards the container bottom side and projects in profile over the side wall 4, 6. More specifically, the shock absorber projects so far from the associated outer container side that it pierces an imaginary plane E spanned between the lower outer edge 24, 26, 28, 30 of the cantilevered container rim 12 and the outer edge 16, 18, 20, 22 of the bottom 2, or respectively between the lower outer edge 24, 26 of the cantilevered container edge 12 and the outer edge portions 25, 27 of the skids of the bottom 2. In other words, the shock absorber 14 protrudes from the outer side of the associated side wall 4, 6, 8, 10 to such an extent that it projects beyond the imaginary plane E and thus, in the event of overturning (with the outer edge 16, 18, 20, 22 of the bottom 2 as instantaneous pole), hits the bottom before the lower outer edge 24, 26, 28, 30 of the protruding container rim 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the shock absorber 14 is spaced downwards from the container rim 12 in the container height direction and projects so far in the direction parallel to the bottom that it is flush with a projection A of the outer surface of the container rim 12. On the one hand, this serves the purpose of ensuring that the shock absorber does not unnecessarily increase the outer dimensions of the container 1 and, on the other hand, in this way the outer surface of the container rim 12 and shock absorber 14 can both serve as support points in an overturned container stack (see also FIG. 2C).

A number of preferred configuration examples for shock absorbers 14 according to the present invention are explained below. Common to all of these embodiments is that they are configured by their overall structure or by predetermined impact absorption portions 32 to at least partially absorb or dissipate impacts. Mechanisms for such dissipation of impact energy are mainly internal friction losses during elastic deformation and/or during plastic deformation of components.

The basic structure of the shock absorber 14 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a hollow profile and is arranged in the respective corner regions of the container 1. Said hollow profile shape encloses a cavity or a clearance R between the side wall and the shock absorber 14. The hollow profile shock absorber 14 is integrally molded to the container 1 and, due to its overall structure or respectively the clearance R enclosed towards the wall, provides elasticity and a defined spring deflection/a defined crumple zone for receiving impact forces. The hollow profile shape of the shock absorber 14 forms a defined collision portion 15 at its end on the container outside (as seen from the shielded side wall 4), in this case a flattened end portion. Seen from this collision portion 15, the structure of the shock absorber 14 (the hollow profile) widens in the direction towards the container or in the direction towards a central container plain M. This has the advantage that impact forces at the collision portion 15 can be transmitted in a defined manner into the shock absorber 14 and can then be distributed over a larger area and transmitted into the container 1. In addition, the widening hollow profile structure supports a defined elastic deformation of the shock absorber 14.

The hollow profile shock absorber 14 is molded onto the container 1 in such a way that the hollow profile is open in the direction of the side wall 8, 10 adjacent to the shielded side wall 4, 6. This allows good demoldability during production in a plastic molding process. A lower section of the shock absorber 14 (or its hollow profile shape) running essentially horizontally or parallel to the bottom is formed by the rib 13, which also serves for limiting the nest depth.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a hollow profile-shaped shock absorber 14 according to a second embodiment, which is similar in form and function to the shock absorber 14 according to the first embodiment. The main distinguishing feature of the shock absorber 14 according to the second embodiment from the first embodiment is the rounded or essentially semi-circular hollow profile collision portion 15. Compared to the flattened curved collision portion 15 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the semi-circular profile shape generates a higher point of impact in the event of overturning and thus an advantageous transmission of force into the hollow profile structure of the shock absorber 14, which widens in the direction towards the central container plain M.

The shock absorber 14 shown in FIG. 6 according to a third embodiment of the invention comprises, like the shock absorber 14 according to the second embodiment, a round/rounded collision portion 15. In addition, the shock absorber 14 according to a third embodiment has, at the lower half of its semi-circular collision portion 15, a projection 34 pointing obliquely away from the container interior and downwards for a defined transmission of force into the shock absorber 14. The semi-circular collision portion 15 has reduced material thickness above the projection 34 in order to provide a defined predetermined breaking point 35 in this area. In addition, according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the shock absorber 14 has a spring portion 36 via which it is suspended from the container 1 (here from the container rim 12). Due to the spring suspension already provided by the spring portion 36, the shock absorber 14 according to the third embodiment can be designed with a less expanding hollow profile structure.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a shock absorber 14 according to the invention. This has an impact absorption portion 38 in the form of a folded portion 38. Similar to comparable structures in passenger cars, the folded structure allows a defined deformation with increased energy dissipation per compressed distance. In the embodiment shown, the folded portion 38 is arranged in the horizontally running portion or rib 13 of the hollow-profile shock absorber 14 and adjacent to the collision portion 15 in order to receive impact forces occurring during the collision as directly as possible.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of a shock absorber 14 manufactured in a two-component injection molding process. In this embodiment, the collision portion 15 of the shock absorber 14 projecting away from the container interior is coated with an elastomer portion 40 which cushions forces occurring during impact. In other words, an elastomer pad 40 is molded onto the outside of the shock absorber 14 for improved shock absorption. In this embodiment, the collision portion 15 per se therefore forms the impact absorption portion 32. 

1. A pallet container comprising: a bottom; side walls that extend upwards from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim in a conical and/or stepped manner; and skids each having at least two engagement openings that allow engagement of a fork of a lift truck or other industrial truck under the bottom, the bottom and the side walls of the pallet container being shaped in such a way that the pallet container is nestable in an identically constructed pallet container having an orientation that is either identical to an orientation of the pallet container or is rotated 180° relative to the orientation of the pallet container with respect to a vertical axis, the skids comprising an outer contour that follows an outer contour of the side walls.
 2. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the skids each have an outer edge, each outer edge having at least one s-shaped portion.
 3. The pallet container according to claim 2, wherein the s-shaped portions extend in a common plane.
 4. The pallet container according to claim 3, wherein undersides of the skids facing away from the bottom extend in the common plane of the s-shaped portions.
 5. The pallet container according to claim 2, wherein the outer edges each have two end portions extending in a straight line.
 6. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein: support recesses are provided on the circumferential container rim, into which lower support regions of skids of the identically constructed pallet container are received when the identically constructed pallet container is stacked onto the pallet container, the at least two engagement openings are each provided in the skids, said at least two engagement openings allowing engagement of the fork of the lift truck or other industrial truck transversely with respect to the skids, the support recesses comprise lower surfaces that extend in a first common plane, lower surfaces of the at least two engagement openings extend in a second common plane, and a depth of the support recesses of the pallet container is less than or equal to a distance between the second common plane of the lower surfaces of the at least two engagement openings of the pallet container and the first common plane of the lower surfaces of the support regions of the skids of the pallet container.
 7. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential container rim is configured to cantilever outwards to allow the to allow engagement of the fork of the lift truck or other industrial truck.
 8. The pallet container according to claim 7, wherein at least one recessed grip is provided at an underside of the container rim, said at least one recessed grip being oriented such that the at least one recessed grip is grippable from below.
 9. The pallet container according to claim 8, wherein at least one opening is provided at an upper end of the at least one recessed grip, said at least one opening extending from the at least one recessed grip in a direction away from a container interior region bounded by the bottom and the side walls, so that when the pallet container is positioned upside down, water collected in the at least one recessed grip is drainable at least partially to an outside of the pallet container.
 10. The pallet container according to claim 9, wherein the at least one opening extends at least partially upwards from the at least one recessed grip.
 11. The pallet container according to claim 9, wherein the circumferential container rim comprises a ribbed structure.
 12. The pallet container according to claim 11, wherein the at least one recessed grip is formed by a u-shaped rib of the rib structure, the u-shaped rib comprising an opening directed downwards and a rim facing away from the container interior region, said rim being adjoined by an outer wall that encloses the at least one recessed grip together with the u-shaped rib.
 13. The pallet container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one shock absorber on an outer side of one of the side walls, said at least one shock absorber being arranged in a container height direction below the circumferential container rim and projecting from said outer side at least to such an extent that the at least one shock absorber is tangent to or intersects a plane spanning between an outer edge of the bottom and an outer edge of the circumferential container rim, so that, when a tilting movement of the container occurs about an outer edge of the bottom, the at least one shock absorber hits a flat bottom before the circumferential container rim and at least partially dissipates an impact acting laterally on the pallet container while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation.
 14. The pallet container according to claim 13, wherein the side walls comprise four side walls and the at least one shock absorber comprises four shock absorbers, each shock absorber arranged in a corner region of the pallet container.
 15. The pallet container according to claim 13, wherein an underside of the at least one shock absorber runs parallel to the circumferential container rim and said underside forms a stop for limiting a nest depth when nesting several identically constructed containers. 